Compressed gas regulator with flow control and internal gauge

ABSTRACT

A compressed gas regulator with integral flow meter is disclosed. The regulator includes pressure reducing section and a flow control section as well as, a Bourdon tube gauge disposed within the protective surround of the regulator body to prevent physical damage to the gauge. The Bourdon tube is mounted on a gauge adapter that provides for rotation of the tube within the regulator body, yet maintaining a gas seal with the high pressure gas supply. The gauge adapter provides a means for fluidly communicating the high pressure level to the Bouldon tube, yet allowing rotation of the Bourdon tube for zeroing and calibration purposes. An indicator ring, also disposed within the regulator body, is mounted on the Bourdon tube so that the pressure level is readily ascertained by viewing the indicator ring through an aperture in the regulator body. An improved flow meter or flow control device is also disclosed that includes a filter and coined flow aperture plate that is economical to manufacture yet provides improved functionality in filtering particulates from the gas emerging from the flow meter.

RELATED APPLICATION INFORMATION

This application is a continuation-in-part of my application Ser. No.09/213,441, filed Dec. 16, 1998 now Pat. No. 6,082,396.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to gas flow control devices and, moreparticularly, to a compact, regulated gas flow control valve.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Precisely calibrated gas-metering devices are commonly used in themedical, emergency and home health care industries for delivering oxygento patients in need thereof. Nearly all regulators are attached to ahigh pressure oxygen tank via standardized mechanical connections setforth in the Compressed Gas Associations standards.

Millions of people suffer from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.Sixty percent of them are treated and receive supplemental oxygen intheir homes. Ambulatory patients are provided with portable oxygensystems. The most common system consists of aluminum or steel cylindersranging in capacity from 160 to 660 liters containing oxygen at 2000psi. The cylinder is fitted with an off/on post valve to which an oxygenregulator is attached. The regulator reduces the gas pressure from 2000psi to 50 psi typically. In addition, most regulators include a flowcontrol section that meters the gas to the patient at a prescribed ordesired flow rate. Nearly all of the regulators are fitted with anexternal pressure gauge that displays the pressure within the cylinderat all times. The gauges are fragile, and even though fitted withprotective rubber surrounds, are easily broken since the protrude fromexternal surface of the regulator body. When a gauge is broken, it isnecessary for the home care provider to make an unscheduled visit to thepatient's home to replace the regulator. The large number of unscheduledvisits is a large expense to the home care provider industry.

Many regulator devices are presently known that provide suchfunctionality. A variety of such devices are manufactured by Flotec,Inc. of 7625 West New York Street, Indianapolis, Ind. 46214. Many stylesof regulator products are produced in the U.S. One common style ofregulator is the “unibody” regulator design. The unibody design istypified by a single substantially cylindrical assembly including a yokeat one end for mounting the regulator on a high pressure tank and aregulator body integral with the yoke that includes a pressure reducingsection and a flow control section. Typically, these devices alsoinclude a pressure gauge that is screwed into a threaded hole in theouter surface of the cylindrical body.

Oxygen tanks onto which the pressure regulator/flow control devices areattached are quite heavy and easily tip over. When an oxygen tank tipsover it is not uncommon for the pressure gauge attached to the externalsurface of the regulator device to suffer damage. An improvement inregulator design that minimizes the likelihood of damage to thepressure, gauge is desired.

Further, pressure regulator/flow control devices are constructed withmachined metal parts that are subject to surface wear. Very fineparticles of metal are created when the internal moving components ofthe regulator make contact with each other. It is thus a further desiredfeature to minimize the likelihood that such fine metal particles areintroduced into the gas flow provided to the user of such devices.

Therefore, an improved compressed gas regulator/flow control device withan internal gauge and improved particulate filtering is desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A gas regulator including an internal gauge, according to one aspect ofthe present invention, comprises a first body having an inlet forreceiving gas at high pressure from a gas source thereof and a fluidpassage in fluid communication with the inlet that extends through thefirst body, the first body further including an outlet in fluidcommunication with the fluid passage, a second body having an inlet, apressure reduction cavity, a first fluid passage in fluid communicationwith the inlet and the pressure reduction cavity, a gauge cavity, aviewport aperture fluidly communicating with the gauge cavity, and asecond fluid passage in fluid communication with the first fluid passageand the gauge cavity, a helical coil Bourdon tube having a sealed endand an open end and disposed within the gauge cavity and wherein theopen end of the Bourdon tube is fluidly connected to the second fluidpassage where the second fluid passage communicates with the gaugecavity, a pressure indicator disposed in the gauge cavity and attachedto the Bourdon tube, and wherein the pressure indicator is viewablethrough the viewport aperture, pressure reducing means including a lowpressure outlet disposed within and fluidly sealing the pressurereduction cavity, the pressure reducing means reducing the gas pressurein the pressure reduction cavity to a predetermined lower pressure andsupplying the predetermined lower pressure gas to the low pressureoutlet, clamp means for attaching the first body to the gas source sothat high pressure gas is supplied to the inlet of the first body, andmeans for attaching the first body to the second body, the means forattaching including means for fluidly connecting the outlet of the firstbody to the inlet of the second body.

One object of the present invention is to provide an improved gasregulator with flow control capability.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved gasregulator with an internal gauge that is securely protected from damage.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a moreeconomically produced gas pressure regulator with flow control.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an improvedflow metering device.

These and other objects of the present invention will become moireapparent from the following description of the preferred embodiments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a compressed gas regulator withflow control and internal gauge according to the present invention.

FIG. 1a is an end view of the device of FIG. 1 with the t-handle anddowel pins removed.

FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view of the device shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3a is an isometric view of the gauge adapter 40 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 3b is an isometric view of the gauge adapter 40 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 3c is an isometric view of the gauge adapter of FIG. 3a shown withthe Bourdon tube 44 mounted thereon.

FIG. 4 is a front elevational view of the connector 22 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the flow meter portion 26 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is an end view of the knob 28 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is an end view of the flow meter body 84 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 8 is an end view of the rotor cup 80 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 9 is a partial cross-sectional view of the rotor cup 80 of FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is an end view of the rotor filter 78 shown in FIG. 5.

FIG. 11 is an end view of the manifold 54 shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 12 is cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the gasregulator with internal gauge according to the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a front elevational view of the connector 122 of FIG. 13.

FIG. 14 is a partial cross-sectional view of another embodiment of acompressed gas regulator with flow control and internal gauge accordingto the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a front elevational view of a connector according to anotheraspect of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is an end view of the connector of FIG. 15.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of theinvention, reference will now be made to the embodiment illustrated inthe drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. Itwill nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of theinvention is thereby intended, such alterations and furthermodifications in the illustrated device, and such further applicationsof the principles of the invention as illustrated therein beingcontemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to whichthe invention relates.

Referring now to FIG. 1, a compressed gas regulator with flow controland internal gauge 10, according to the present invention is show. Theregulator 10 includes a yoke portion 12 having an aperture 14 throughwhich a post valve (not shown) is received. A post valve is attached toa high pressure gas tank and provides a convenient and standard quickconnect/disconnect mechanism for attaching a regulator to the gas tank.Typically, t-handle 16 is rotated so that yoke 12 is clamped onto thepost valve. Dowel pins 18 mate with corresponding holes in the postvalve. T-handle 16 is rotated to urge the post valve onto dowel pins 18and valve seat 20. Valve seat 20, shown in more detail in FIG. 2,includes a metal ring (item 32, FIG. 2) within which a circular rubberseal (item 34, FIG. 2) is attached. C-clip 17 secures t-handle 16 ontoyoke portion 12. Compressed oxygen or other gas from a source of highpressure (e.g. a compressed gas tank, not shown) is delivered throughthe post valve to the connector 22. Compressed gas flows through theyoke portion 12 into the regulator body 24. Within regulator body 24,the pressure from the high pressure tank is reduced and regulated. Theregulated gas pressure is then supplied internally via fluid passage,discussed below, to the flow control portion 26 of device 10. Knob 28provides a convenient mechanism rotatable by the user to select from avariety of gas flow delivery rates. Low pressure gas at a desired orpredetermined flow rate is delivered at the fitting 30. The yoke portion12 provides a mechanism for connection of the device 10 to a standardCGA 870 tank connection. In the embodiment shown, flow meter portion 26and regulator body portion 24 are cylindrical in cross-section.

Referring now to FIG. 1a, an end view of the device 10, with thet-handle 16 and dowel pins 18 removed, is shown. Yoke portion 12 isprimarily shown in this view. Aperture 12 c is a threaded hole thatreceives t-handle 16. Apertures 12 b receive dowel pins 18 and are sizedso that dowel pins 18 are an interference fit therein. Surface 12 d is aflat surface below the valve seat 20 (FIG. 1) that provides mechanicalsupport therefor. Radius undercuts 12 e (also shown in FIG. 2) enablemounting of the device 10 on certain CGA standard adapters and are wellknown in the art.

Referring now to FIG. 2, a cross-sectional view of the device 10 of FIG.1 is shown with the flow meter portion 26 removed. Although a flow meter26 is shown attached to device 10 in FIG. 1, the device shown in FIG. 2may be completed with a cap device that mates with threaded end 10 a toprovide a pressure regulated source of gas without flow meteringcontrol. As in FIG. 1, the yoke portion 12, dowel pins 18, connector 22,t-handle 16 and regulator body 24 are shown. The valve seat 20 includesa metal ring 32 and a rubber gasket 34 that is attached to the innerdiameter of metal ring 32. Connector 22 is screwed into regulator body24, and o-ring seal 75 provides a gas seal therebetween. Compressed gasis supplied to connector 22 and is introduced into passage 36. Passage38 is in fluid communication with passage 36. Gauge adapter 40 slidesover connector 22 and is sized to closely fit over the outer diameter ofconnector 22 in the area of passage 38. O-rings 42 provide a gas sealbetween gauge adapter 40 and connector 22 so that compressed gas flowingin passage 38 will not escape. Compressed gas in passage 38 is channeledinto Bourdon tube 44 through aperture 40 a in adapter 40. The Bourdontube 44 is attached to and in fluid communication with fluid aperture 40a with silver solder or the like. The silver solder (not shown) thatattaches Bourdon tube 44 into aperture 40 a prevents any gas flow out ofpassage 38 and enables gas flow only into Bourdon tube 44. Bourdon tube44 receives pressurized gas through passage 38 and aperture 40 a. Apressure indicator ring 46 is attached to the outermost coils of Bourdontube 44 and positioned in the channel 48 defined by the regulator body24 and the surfaces of gauge adapter 40. Connector 22 includes externalthreads and mates with regulator body 24. Pressurized gas is alsodelivered via passage 36 to the small aperture 50 into the pressurereducing portion 52 of regulator body 24. Pressure reducing portion 52includes a cavity 72 within which a manifold 54, a piston 56 and aspring 58 are situated. Regulated pressure gas is supplied at outletorifice area 60.

In operation pressurized gas is supplied to passage 36 from a highpressure source. The pressurized gas flows through passage 36 and intopassage 50 and passage 38. The gas pressure in passage 38 iscommunicated to Bourdon tube 44. Bourdon tube 44 rotates about thecentral axis of connector 22, rotating pressure indicating ring 46 inaccordance with the pressure in passage 38. Pressure readings ornumerals are inscribed on the outer circumference of pressure indicatorring 46. The readings or numerals are viewable by the user throughpressure window 62. Pressurized gas flows through passage 50 into thepressure reducing portion 52. When flow meter 26 (as shown in FIGS. 1and 5) is threaded onto and sealing the outlet orifice area 60, thepiston 56 is captured and mechanically prevented from moving out of thecavity 72. The same would be true with a cap installed at 10 a. Piston56 is shown in its quiescent position assumed when no pressurized gas ispresent in device 10. Spring 58 is mechanically compressed slightly to adesired compression wherein the spring rate is substantially linear.Piston 56 is mechanically maintained in the position shown by flow meter26 when flow meter 26 is screwed onto regulator body 24 (as shown inFIG. 1). The movement of piston 56 takes place between the positionshown, and piston 56 being urged toward connector 22 so that Tefloninsert 70 in tip 56 a provides a gas seal against passage 50. Piston 56,spring 58 and manifold 54 coact to regulate pressure supplied at theoutlet orifice 60. In particular, pressurized gas travels throughaperture or passage 50 into cavity 64. The force of the pressurized gasin cavity 64 causes gas flow over and around the tip 56 a of piston 56and enters the cross-drilled hole 66 in piston 56. Passage 68 is influid communication with cross-drilled hole 66 in piston 56 so that gasflowing therethrough is supplied to the outlet orifice 60. An insert 70is disposed in cavity at tip 56 a to provide a gas seal, cutting off gasflow into cavity 64 from passage 50 when piston 56 is urged towardconnector 22.

The cooperating action of piston 56, manifold 54 and spring 58 is wellknown in the art of pressure regulators and described in detail in U.S.Pat. No. 4,655,246 (which discloses a device having very similarinternal components) and need not be described in great detail herein.In a quiescent state, spring 58 urges piston 56 away from connector 22to expose aperture 50. As pressurized gas enters into cavity 64,pressure equalization principles result in gas flow around tip 56 a ofpiston 56 into cross drilled hole 66, through the center of piston 56and into passage 68 and cavity 60. As pressure equalization betweencavity 60 and cavity 64 occurs, forces are exerted by the gas in cavity60 that overcome the force exerted by spring 58 forcing piston 56 towardconnector 22 and sealing aperture 50 closed. When the pressure in cavity60 falls, as gas flows into the flow meter 26, the force on piston 56 islessened allowing piston 56 to move toward cavity 60 and uncoveringaperture 50, thereby allowing more gas to enter cavity 64. O-ring seal76 provides a gas seal between piston 56 and manifold 54. The diameterof o-ring seal 76 is smaller than the diameter of piston 56 (adjacentcavity 60) so that excess pressure in cavity 64 forces manifold 54toward cavity 60, compressing spring 58 slightly, resulting in gas flowfrom cavity 64 past seal 76, over manifold 54 (see also FIG. 11) intocavity 72 and out pressure vent 73.

When device 10 is attached to a high pressure gas cylinder (not shown)the t-handle 16 is rotated to secure the device onto the cylinder. Whendevice 10 is not attached to a gas cylinder, yoke portion 12 isrotatable with respect to regulator body 24. When t-handle 16 istightened, the tapered portion of yoke 12 is urged onto the taperedportion of connector 22 at location 23, and yoke 12 becomes rotationallyfixed with respect to regulator body 24. Rotation of the yoke portion 12with respect to the regulator body 24 is desirable so that the pressurewindow or viewport 62 is positioned as desired by the user.

Referring now to FIGS. 3a, 3 b and 3 c, gauge adapter 40 is shown inisometric view, and in FIG. 3c Bourdon tube 44 is shown attached to thegauge adapter 40. Bourdon tube 44 is sealed at end 44 a and in fluidcommunication at end 44 b with aperture 40 a. A sealant such as silversolder, epoxy, or other known adhesives useful in high pressure sealingconditions, is applied into aperture 40 a so that gas traveling throughaperture 40 a enters only into Bourdon tube 44 and is not lost to thesurrounding atmosphere. Aperture 40 b, shown in FIG. 3a, provides amechanism by which a dowel or pin may be inserted though yoke portion 12and aperture 12 a (see FIG. 2) so that the gauge adapter 40 may berotated with respect to the regulator body 24 to “zero” or calibrate thepressure indicator ring 46.

Referring now to FIG. 4, a front elevational view of connector 22 isshown. Groove 22 a provides a location wherein o-rings 42 are situated.A notch 22 b and a corresponding symmetrically located notch (not shown)provide a mechanical connection point wherein a spanner wrench may gripconnector 22 for screwing the connector 22 into regulator body 24.

Referring now to FIG. 5, a cross-sectional view of the flow meterportion 26 of FIG. 1 is shown. The flow meter 26 includes a knob 28, arotor filter 78 made from sintered metal and a rotor cup stamped fromsheet metal, preferably brass. Rotor filter 78 and rotor cup 80 arepositioned over knob extension 28 a. Screw 82 secures rotor filter 78and rotor cup 80 to knob extension 28 a. Rotor cup 80 is maintainedadjacent flow meter body 84 by the spring forces asserted on knob 28 bysprings 88. A locking substance, such as nylon, is applied to thethreads of screw 82 to prevent the screw from loosening over time. Knob28 is rotatable within flow meter body 84. Ball bearings 86, springs 88and bearing rings 90 (three of each are present in device 10, theirlocations shown in FIG. 7) provide a detent rotation mechanism againstwhich knob 28 acts when rotated. Spring 88 and bearing ring 90 urge ballbearing 86 into knob 28 to create the detent action upon rotation ofknob 28. Rings 90 are preferably made of nylon or Teflon and preventball bearings 86 from contacting springs 88 which would result inmetallic particle generation within the flow meter device. O-ring seal92 provides a gas seal between knob 28 and flow meter body 84 and alsoprovides a shock absorber therebetween. O-rings 94 provide a gas sealbetween rotor cup 80 and flow meter body 84. Flow rate numerals (notshown) are embossed onto the periphery of knob 28 at location 85. Aviewport 87, that is oval in shape, enables the user to view the flowrate numerals embossed on the knob 28.

Operationally, pressurized gas is supplied into the cavity area 96 whenthe flow meter 26 is attached (threaded onto) to the regulator shown inFIG. 2. Outlet orifice 60 provides regulated gas pressure to cavity 96.Pressurized gas passes through rotor filter 78 and through one of aplurality of small apertures in rotor cup 80 (shown in FIG. 8) and intofluid passage 98. Passage or aperture 98 is in fluid communication withthe drilled and threaded cavity 99, wherein a fitting adapter (item 30in FIG. 1) is attached or screwed into flow meter body 84. Regulated andflow controlled gas is thus supplied to cavity 99.

In the preferred embodiment, regulator body 24, yoke portion 12,manifold 54, piston 56, knob 28, gauge adapter 40 and flow meter body 84are made from aluminum and subsequently anodized to provide a hardeneddurable surface for each. Connector 22 is made from brass to resistignition in the event that the cylinder valve is suddenly opened causingadiabatic compression of the oxygen to 2000 psi resulting in theincoming oxygen temperature rising above 1000 degrees Fahrenheit.

Referring now to FIG. 6, an end view of knob 28 is shown with portion 28a viewable. Detents 28 b are shown which coact with ball bearings 86 toprovide detent action upon rotation of knob 28. Two flats 28 c areformed in knob portion 28 a. The flats 28 c mechanically engage theinner rectangular apertures of rotor filter 78 and rotor cup 80.

Referring now to FIG. 7, an end view of the flow meter body 84 is shown.The cavities 84 a, arranged in 120 degree offsets from each other, eachhold a ball bearing 86, a spring 88 and a ring 90. Aperture 98 andapertures 99, all shown by broken lines, are located on the back side ofthe flow meter body 84, and in 120 degree offset positions from oneanother. Aperture 98 and apertures 99 each have two o-ring,s insertedtherein as typified by FIG. 5 with respect to aperture 98. Only aperture98 provides a flow path for gas to flow out of the internal area of flowmeter body 84.

Referring now to FIG. 8, the rotor cup 80 of FIG. 5 is shown in moredetail. Arranged about the periphery of rotor cup 80 are elevenindentations 80 a. Centrally located in each of the indentations 80 aare apertures 80 b, that extend through rotor cup 80. Rectangularaperture 81 mates with the flats 28 c of the knob 28 shown in FIG. 6.Each of the indentations is a coined surface and shown in more detail inFIG. 9. The coining of the surface of rotor cup 80 prevents the o-rings94 (FIG. 5) from contacting the sharp edges of the apertures 80 b,extending the life expectancy of the flow meter 26.

Referring now to FIG. 9, a partial cross-sectional view of the rotor cup80, looking in the direction of the arrows labeled A—A, of FIG. 8 isshown. The recessed portion 80 a surrounding the holes 80 b prevents orlessens the contact between the holes 80 b and the o-rings 94. Theapertures 80 b may be drilled, punched or laser cut into rotor cup 80.

Referring now to FIG. 10, a front elevational view of the rotor filter78 is shown. A recessed groove 78 a, triangular in cross-section, islocated at a radius that corresponds with the radius of holes 80 b inrotor cup 80. Gas flowing through the rotor filter 78 is deliveredreadily to any of the apertures 80 b positioned over the groove 78 a,and material that might clog a portion of rotor filter 78 cannot clogthe entire filter. Only one of the apertures 80 b has air flowingthrough it at one time, that is, the aperture 80 b positioned overaperture 98. Rectangular aperture 78 b mates with and receives knob stem28 a, as does aperture 81 in rotor cup 80, so that the rotor cup 80 androtor filter 78 rotate in unison with knob 28. Rotor cup 80 is sized sothat the cup portion (shown in FIG. 5) is a small interference fit overthe outer diameter of rotor filter 78.

Referring now to FIG. 11, an end view of manifold 54 is shown. Six flats54 a are located on the outer periphery of manifold 54 so that gas flowpast the manifold occurs when surface 54 b is not in contact withsurface 24 a of FIG. 2. Groove 54 c receives o-ring 74, as shown in FIG.2.

Referring now to FIG. 12, an alternate embodiment of the regulatordevice with flow control and internal gauge 100 according to the presentinvention is shown. Like components in FIG. 2 are number the same inFIG. 12, and their features and functionality are identical. The soledifference between FIG. 2 and FIG. 12 are the connector 122 and the tankadapter portion 112, which replace connector 22 and yoke portion 12,respectively. Connector 122 is shaped to connect to a CGA standard 540“nut-and-nipple” high pressure connector on a high pressure gas cylinder(not shown). O-ring 111 provides a gas seal between connector 122 andthe mating CGA connection. Adapter portion 112 is cylindrical incross-section and includes threads on the internal surface at 112 a.Adapter portion 112 is rotatable with respect to regulator body 24 whenthe device 100 is not attached to a gas cylinder. When attached to acylinder, adapter 112 is urged against connector 122 to maintain theposition of the adapter 112 with respect to the regulator body 24. Inall other aspects, device 100 functions exactly as device 10 of FIG. 2.

Referring now to FIG. 13, a front elevational view of the connector 122is shown. Groves 122 a provide a receptacle within which o-rings aredisposed, as shown in FIG. 12. Grove 122 b provides a receptacle foro-ring 111. Adapter 122 is substantially cylindrical in cross-sectionand made from brass to lessen ignition potential when adiabaticcompression of oxygen occurs.

Referring now to FIG. 14, a partial cross-sectional view of anotherembodiment of a compressed gas regulator with internal gauge 130according to the present invention is shown. Items in FIG. 14 that areidentical with and have the same functionality as items in FIG. 2 arenumbered the same. The primary external components of regulator 130 arethe yoke portion 132 and the regulator body 134. Regulator body 134provides identical functionality to that of regulator body 24 of FIG. 2,with only minor changes in the cross-section of regulator body 134 at134 a. Specifically, the outer diameter of regulator body 134 isconsistent along its entire length as opposed to regulator body 24. Inall other respects, regulator body 134 is identical to body 24 andcontains the same components for regulation of high pressure gas,including a pressure reducing section (not shown) identical in form andfunction with pressure reducing portion 52 of FIG. 2. Furtherdescription of components identical to those discussed above inconnection with pressure reducing portion 52 in FIG. 2 is unnecessaryand merely duplicative. It is also contemplated that regulator 130 mayoptionally have a flow meter, such as flow meter 26 of FIG. 1, attachedto regulator body 134 in the manner shown in FIG. 1.

Yoke portion 132 is slightly modified at 132 a (versus yoke portion 12)wherein a substantially flat surface is formed across yoke 132. Anaperture at 132 b enables access to gauge adapter 40 at location 40 bfor mechanically rotating gauge adapter 40 with respect to regulatorbody 134 and “zeroing out” pressure indicator ring 46 mounted on Bourdontube 44. Bourdon tube 44 is mounted on adapter 40 and rotates therewith.A small gap at 133 between yoke 132 and regulator body 134 providessufficient clearance for yoke 132 to rotate with respect to connector136. When t-handle 16 is tightened onto a CGA 870 post valve (notshown), yoke 132 is urged into contact with connector 136 at matingtapered surfaces at 135 and frictional forces between connector 136 andyoke portion 132 prevent rotation of yoke portion 132 with respect toconnector 136. Connector 136 is secured to regulator body 134 bythreaded portion 138 engaging mating threads 140 in regulator body 134.O-rings 142, 144 and 146 provide a gas seal between connector 136 andregulator body 134 at three locations along the length of connector 136.The o-rings 142, 144 and 146 are disposed in channels (further describedin relation to FIG. 15) to secure their position with respect toconnector 136. O-rings 144 and 146 provide a fluid seal therebetween sothat air pressure in passage 139 is delivered to Bourdon tube 44. Airpressure in passage 137 (which corresponds to supply pressure whenregulator 130 is attached to a tank or other source of compressed air)is supplied to passage 139 which is in fluid communication with passage137. Gauge adapter 40 has an internal diameter slightly larger than thecorresponding diameter of connector 136 and compressed gas flows alongthe surface therebetween from passage 139 into Bourdon tube 44 at 44 a.Also shown in FIG. 14 are dowel pins 18, viewport 62, cylindricalchannel 48 within which pressure indicator ring 46 is disposed andc-clip 17, attached to t-handle 16, which prevents removal of t-handle16 from yoke portion 132.

The materials used in the construction of the components of regulator130 are the same as the materials used in the construction of regulator10. Aluminum or brass are used for the machined components includingyoke 132, connector 136 and regulator body 134. O-rings and seals aremade from rubber or synthetic rubber-like materials well known in theart.

A notable difference in the configuration of regulator 130 versusregulator 10 is reflected in the configuration of the valve seatcomprised of o-ring 148 and inwardly tapered channel 150, formed inconnector 136, that receives o-ring 148. O-ring 148 provides a fluidseal between regulator 130 and a CGA 870 post valve (not shown) whenregulator 130 is attached thereto. It is not uncommon for ring 32 andgasket 34 of regulator 10 (FIG. 2) to be inadvertently dislodged fromtheir location on connector 22 (see FIG. 2) when regulator 10 isdisconnected from a post valve. Connector 136 and o-ring 148 provide animprovement of the valve seat configuration (comprised of ring 32 andgasket 34) in regulator 10. O-ring 148 has a cross-sectional diameterlarger than the opening presented by tapered channel 150. The inwardlytapered cross-section of channel 150 mechanically retains o-ring 148therein and prevents inadvertent removal of o-ring 148 when regulator130 is disconnected from a source of high pressure gas.

Referring now to FIGS. 15 and 16, a front elevational view and an endview of connector 136 are shown. Connector 136 includes a threadedportion 138 that engages mating threads 140 in regulator body 134 (FIG.14). Channels or grooves 152 receive o-ring seals 142. 144 and 146(shown in FIG. 14). Hexagonal portion 154 is of a standard configurationfor mechanically engaging an open end or box end wrench. Protrudingportion 156 engages a CGA 870 post valve, and the configuration thereofis well known in the art. Compressed gas that is introduced into passage137, which extends along the entire length of connector 136, isdelivered to Bourdon tube 44 and to end 158 of connector 136. Pressureregulator portion 52, also found in regulator 130, interacts with end158 to regulate pressure as is described above in relation to thedescription of the operation of regulator 10.

While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in thedrawings and foregoing description of the preferred embodiment, the sameis to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character, itbeing understood that only the preferred embodiment has been shown anddescribed and that all changes and modifications that come within thespirit of the invention are desired to be protected.

What is claimed is:
 1. A gas regulator comprising: a first body havingan inlet for receiving gas at high pressure from a high pressure gassource, a fluid passage in fluid communication with said inlet thatextends through said first body, an outlet in fluid communication withsaid fluid passage, and an inwardly tapered groove encircling said inletof said first body; an O-ring seal disposed in said inwardly taperedgroove of said first body, a second body having an inlet, a pressurereduction cavity, a first fluid passage in fluid communication with saidinlet and said pressure reduction cavity, a gauge cavity, a viewpointaperture fluidly communicating with said gauge cavity, and a secondfluid passage in fluid communication with said first fluid passage andsaid gauge cavity; a helical coil Bourdon tube having a sealed end andan open end and disposed within said gauge cavity and wherein the openend of said Bourdon tube is fluidly connected to said second fluidpassage where said second fluid passage communicates with said gaugecavity; a pressure indicator disposed in said gauge cavity and attachedto said Bourdon tube, and wherein said pressure indicator is viewablethrough said viewport aperture; pressure reducing means including a lowpressure outlet disposed within and fluidly sealing said pressurereduction cavity, said pressure reducing means reducing the gas pressurein said pressure reduction cavity to a predetermined lower pressure andsupplying the predetermined lower pressure gas to said low pressureoutlet; clamp means for attaching said first body to the gas source sothat high pressure gas is supplied to said inlet of said first body; andmeans for attaching said first body to said second body, said means forattaching including means for fluidly connecting said outlet of saidfirst body to said inlet of said second body.
 2. The device of claim 1wherein said first body and said second body are made from metal andwherein said gauge cavity is substantially cylindrical and includes aninner diameter and an outer diameter, wherein said gauge cavitysurrounds said inlet of said second body, and wherein said second bodysubstantially covers said gauge cavity when said first body is attachedto said second body by said means for attaching.
 3. The device of claim2 wherein said pressure indicator is a ring including a series ofnumbers situated on the outer surface of the ring, and wherein said ringis attached to and surrounds said Bourdon tube.
 4. The device of claim 3including flow control means having a flow inlet and a flow outlet, andwherein said flow control means is attached to said second body and saidflow inlet is fluidly coupled to said low pressure outlet, said flowcontrol means providing a controlled gas flow at said flow outlet. 5.The device of claim 4 wherein said flow control means includes: a flowmeter body wherein said flow inlet is a disk cavity in said flow meterbody, said flow meter body including said flow outlet, said flow meterbody further including a flow meter fluid passage in fluid communicationwith said disk cavity that fluidly communicates with said flow outlet,and said flow meter body including a knob aperture that fluidlycommunicates with said disk cavity; a knob having a protrusion, whereinsaid protrusion is inserted into said knob aperture and extends intosaid disk cavity of said flow meter body, filter means disposed in saidflow disk cavity for filtering gas that flows into said flow diskcavity; a flow disk attached to said knob protrusion in said flow diskcavity, said flow disk having a plurality of apertures therein, whereinsaid plurality of apertures in said flow disk are rotatably positionableadjacent said flow meter fluid passage; flow seal means disposed betweensaid flow meter fluid passage and said flow disk to provide a gas sealbetween said flow disk and one of said plurality of apertures in saidflow disk; and knob seal means for providing a gas seal between saidknob protrusion and said knob aperture.
 6. A gas regulator comprising: apressure reducing body having a gauge cavity, a pressure reducingcavity, a flow aperture fluidly connecting said gauge cavity and saidpressure reducing cavity, and a viewport aperture in said pressurereducing body fluidly communicating with said gauge cavity; a mountingmember situated in said gauge cavity and having a first protrusion withan aperture on the distal end thereof, said first protrusion disposed insaid flow aperture of said pressure reducing body, said mounting memberhaving a second protrusion extending outwardly from within said gaugecavity, said mounting member also including a fluid passage extendingfrom the distal end of said first protrusion to the distal end of saidsecond protrusion and establishing fluid communication between thedistal end of said second protrusion and said pressure reducing cavity,said mounting member including a gauge aperture in fluid communicationwith said fluid passage, said mounting member further including aninwardly tapered groove encircling said fluid passage at the distal endof said second protrusion; an O-ring seal disposed in said inwardlytapered groove of said mounting member; seal means disposed between saidflow aperture of said pressure reducing body and said first protrusionof said mounting member and providing a fluid seal therebetween; aBourdon tube having a sealed end and an open end, said Bourdon tubeincluding a plurality of helical rings and disposed about said mountingmember within said gauge cavity, and wherein the open end of saidBourdon tube is fluidly attached to and in fluid communication with saidgauge aperture of said mounting member; means for attaching said secondprotrusion of said mounting member to a source of high pressure gas forsupplying high pressure gas to said fluid passage of said mountingmember; pressure indicating means attached to the outermost helical ringof said Bourdon tube and disposed within said gauge cavity so that it isviewable through said viewport aperture; and pressure reducing means,including a low pressure outlet, disposed within and fluidly sealingsaid pressure reducing cavity, said pressure reducing means reducing thegas pressure in said pressure reducing cavity to a predetermined lowerpressure and supplying the predetermined lower pressure gas to said lowpressure outlet.
 7. The device of claim 6 wherein said mounting memberincludes a flange that mates with and covers said gauge cavity, andwherein said second protrusion extends outward from and above saidflange.
 8. The device of claim 7 wherein said gauge cavity and saidpressure reducing cavity are cylindrical.
 9. The device of claim 8wherein said pressure indicating means is a ring having pressure readoutnumerals inscribed on the external surface thereof.
 10. The device ofclaim 9 including flow control means having a flow inlet and a flowoutlet, and wherein said flow control means is attached to said pressurereducing body and said flow inlet is fluidly coupled to said lowpressure outlet, said flow control means providing a controlled gas flowat said flow outlet.
 11. The device of claim 10 wherein said flowcontrol means includes: a flow meter body wherein said flow inlet is adisk cavity in said flow meter body, said flow meter body including saidflow outlet, said flow meter body further including a flow meter fluidpassage in fluid communication with said disk cavity that fluidlycommunicates with said flow outlet, and said flow meter body including aknob aperture that fluidly communicates with said disk cavity.
 12. Thedevice of claim 6 including means for rotatably mounting said Bourdontube to said mounting member, said means for rotatably mountingincluding means for fluidly connecting said open end of said Bourdontube to said gauge aperture.
 13. The device of claim 12 wherein saidgauge cavity is cylindrical and said first protrusion of said mountingmember is cylindrical, and wherein said means for rotatably mountingsaid Bourdon tube is a hollow cylindrical body having an inner diametercorresponding to the diameter of said first protrusion and an outerdiameter smaller than the diameter of the innermost of said plurality ofhelical rings of said Bourdon tube, said cylindrical body being disposedover said first protrusion, said cylindrical body including an aperturethrough the outer cylindrical surface thereof wherein said Bourdon tubeis attached on the outer cylindrical surface and in fluid communicationwith said aperture, and wherein said means for rotatably mountingincludes a seal disposed between the inner cylindrical surface of saidcylindrical body and said first protrusion enabling fluid flow betweensaid gauge aperture and said aperture in said cylindrical body at anyangular position of said cylindrical body with respect to said firstprotrusion.
 14. A gas regulator comprising: a pressure reducing bodyhaving a pressure reduction cavity, a gauge cavity, a flow passagefluidly connecting said pressure reduction cavity and said gauge cavityand a viewport aperture in said pressure reducing body fluidlycommunicating with said gauge cavity; connector means having a firstportion disposed in said gauge cavity and a second portion extendingoutward from within said gauge cavity, said connector means including agas fluid passage extending through said connector means from said firstportion to said second portion, said first fluid passage fluidlyconnected to said flow passage of said pressure reducing body in saidgauge cavity where said gas fluid passage emerges from said firstportion, said second portion including an inwardly tapered circularchannel surrounding said gas fluid passage in said second portion and agauge fluid passage in fluid communication with said gas fluid passageand said gauge cavity; seal means disposed in said inwardly taperedcircular channel of said connector means for providing a fluid sealbetween said second protrusion and a source of high pressure gas; aBourdon tube having a plurality of helical rings, said Bourdon tubeincluding a sealed end on the outermost of said helical rings and anopen end on the innermost of said helical rings, said Bourdon tubedisposed about said first portion of said connector means within saidgauge cavity so that said helical rings encircle said first portion ofsaid connector means, and wherein said open end of said Bourdon tube isfluidly attached to and in fluid communication with said gauge fluidpassage of said connector means; means for attaching said second portionof said connector means to a source of high pressure gas for supplyinghigh pressure gas to said gas fluid passage of said connector means;pressure indicating means for providing a visual indication of pressure,said pressure indicating means is attached to the outermost helical ringof said Bourdon tube and disposed within said gauge cavity so that it ismovable within said gauge cavity as said Bourdon tube helically movesand wherein said pressure indicating means is viewable through saidviewport aperture; and pressure reducing means, including a low pressureoutlet, disposed within and fluidly sealing said pressure reducingcavity, said pressure reducing means reducing the gas pressure in saidpressure reducing cavity to a predetermined lower pressure and supplyingthe predetermined lower pressure gas to said low pressure outlet. 15.The device of claim 14 wherein said means for attaching includes meansfor rotatably positioning said second portion of said connector meanswith respect to the source of high pressure gas.
 16. The device of claim14 wherein said pressure indicator means is a ring having an innerdiameter and an outer diameter and including a series of numberssituated on the outer diameter of the ring, and wherein said ring isattached to said Bourdon tube at a location on the inner diameter ofsaid ring.
 17. The device of claim 16 wherein said pressure reducingbody and said connector means are made from metal, and wherein saidgauge cavity is substantially cylindrical, and said means for attachingis rotatably attached to said second portion of said connector means.18. The device of claim 17 including flow control means having a flowinlet and a flow outlet, and wherein said flow control means is attachedto said pressure reducing body and said flow inlet is fluidly coupled tosaid low pressure outlet, said flow control means providing a uservariable gas flow at said flow outlet.